Street-cleaner



INVIENT0H`` ATTORNEY-.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Apr. I8, |899. G. M. WARD. STREET CLEANER.. (Application filed Feb. 16, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

` WITN ESSES BY 20m@ Y@ MV1/LM No. 623,496. Patented Api. I8, |899. G. M. WARD.

STREET CLEANER.

(Application led Feb. 16, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR` ATTORNEYS,

*ma Norms PETERS C0. PHOTO-uws., WASHINGTON. D. c.

@Nita *raras GEORGE M. WARD, OF NEWARK, NEV JERSEY..

STREETCLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,496, dated April 18, 1899.

I Application filed February 16, 1898. Serial No. 670,577. (No model.)

To all whom, t may cora/cern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE M. VARD,a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Cleaners; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form. a part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of street-cleaning devices adapted to be employed or used by a single operator or cleaner. Its objects are to facilitate the Operation of cleaning streets, and more particularly those paved with asphalt, brick, or

the like, presenting a fairly smooth bed-surface to the cleaning device, to secure a more perfect cleaning, time considered, than by other devices of this class heretofore in use; to enable the device to be pushed along the gutter of the street quite close to the curbstone, so as to properly clean out said gutter; to enable the scrapings to be automatically and continuously fed tothe bag carried by the cleaning device and to thereby avoid the use of shovels by the workmen and the repeated cleaning of the street, as is commonly done when the dirt is first scraped into piles and then shoveled into carts and the surface of the street around said piles again scraped and swept, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection withthe description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved street-cleaning apparatus and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved street-cleaning device. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof with a portion of a certain wirenetting broken away. Figs. 3 and 4 are det-ail views, on an enlarged scale, of certain ratchet-and-pawl devices employed in connection with a sprocket-wheel on the main driving-shaft of the device. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section Online Qc, Fig. 6, showing a portion of the scraper and means for elevating the scrapings from the foot of said scraper. Fig. 6 is a detailiplan of the same. Fig. 7 vis a perspective view showing more clearly the foot of said scraper and illustrating clearly the method of adj usting the same. Fig. 8 is a section of a bag or receptacle for t-he scrapings, taken at line a2, Fig. 9; and Fig. 9 is a plan of the same, showing the hinged jaws open to receive said scrapings.

In said drawings, c d indicate the side plates or frames of the device. Said frames are made of metallic strips or pieces in any manner convenient or may be each in one integral piece. The said'frames at theirupper rear parts have rearward extensions h, which serve as handles by means of which the streetcleaner may conveniently push the device this single wheel takes the place of two ordinary wheels placed at the outer sides of the framework, as is common, and which project outwardly and interfere with running the' machine close to curbing of sidewalks, trees, the. The said shaft c carries a sprocket wheel or wheels d', adapted to receive a power-transmittin g chain or belt e, by means of which motion is conveyed or transmitted to an upper sprocket Wheel or wheels f, arranged on a shaft g at the top of the fra'me a at a point a little forward from the handles b, sufficient space being provided between to enable a bag A to be suspended from the top of the frame, asat p, between said sprocket-wheels and said handles. Upon the said shaft g is arranged a second sprocket-wheel or set of IOO sprocket wheels h, which cooperate with sprocket-wheels t' on shaft t" at the forward and lower parts of the frame a, and on the said sprocket-wheels 7L fi are arranged chain beltsjj, which are inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees, more or less, and carry a series of conveying-strips 7J, and upon the frames a u, adjacent to the lower part of said belts, is fastened an inclined way B, of wooden boards, sheet metal, or other suitable material, over which the said conveying-strips 7c slide, propelled by the chainsjj, and thus elevate the scrapings.

Closely adjacent to the lower sprocketwheels t' and at the lower edge of the way B is arranged a scraping-foot nt, which is preferably adjustable in its relation to said way and detachable therefrom, set-screws a or other attaching devices being employed to fasten said scraping-foot in place. The said foot m at its lower end is provided with forwardl y and rearwardly inclined fian ges m m", both of which are intended to slide upon the road-bed, the forwardly-extending fiange m' serving as a scraper to scrape the dirt from said road-bed and lead the same to the way B, where it is conducted upward by the conveying-strips. The rearward iiange or extension m of the foot m serves to relieve the forward ilange of a certain proportion of weight of the device and wearing friction of the road-bed, and thus increases the durability and wear of said foot. The said scraping-foot is preferably of sheet metal. The said foot, furthermore, has an upwardly-extending inclined iiange or extension mm, which is slotted and engages the rear of the way, so as to be fastened thereon by the set-screws n, above referred to.

Above the chains/j and conveying-strips 7c is secured upon the frame a wire screen or netting o,\vhich preferably extends the length of the chainsjj and serves as a support or receiver for empty bags and as a guard to preventaccess tothe conveying chains and strips.

Underneath the way B the frames a provide bearings for a broom-carrier t, to or upon ,which an adjustable broom or brush t' is arranged transversely across the device just back from the scraping-foot m, said broom t serving to sweep remainders of the scrapings loosened by the scraping-foot, which, accumulating in front of the broom as the device is pushed forward, may be scraped up by drawing the device backward a little and rescraping, as will be understood. The broom t is adjustable to enable wear to be taken up.

Back of the wheel d and sprocket-wheels 7L I have arranged a receiver for the suspensory bag or receptacle A, into which the scrapin gs are conveyed or conducted. This consists of a flooring or table o at the bottom and suitable suspensory devices to receive the top or mouth of the bag. Said suspensory devices may be a simple extension p of the frame u, upon which the frame of the bag rests, or it may be hooks or any other suitable device adapted to hold said bags in position.

I prefer to employ a bag A with a hinged bag-frame, the mouth and jaws of which may be readily closed when the bag is filled. Suitable fastenings may be provided for holding said jaws closed and a spring for holding said jaws open when being filled. At the lower part of the frame, at the rear, I also employ casters q, which are preferably arranged on spring-bearings and are intended to take some of the weight of the bag when filled. The wheel d, however, takes the bulk ot the weight of the frame and its connection, the forward parts of the said frame and connections overbalancing the rear part, so that with very little exertion on the part of the operator the said device may be driven forward.

The transverse shaft c, which carries the wheel (l, is mounted at or very near the middle of the length of the machine, so that it forms a pivot on which the machine may be tilted to raise or lower the scraper. This in connection with the central location of the wheel (Z upon said shaft c permits one end or the other of the scraper to be dipped downward to clean a hollow or depression of the pavement. The wheel d is thus centrally mounted with relation to the weight of the machine both longitudinally and laterally, and great facility of operation is secured, as will be understood.

The ratchet wheel or wheels F and pawls G on the shaft c act in connection with the sprocket wheel or wheels d', as indicated in detail, Figs. 3 and 4, the said sprocket-wheels being loose upon the shaft c and carrying the said pawls and the ratchet-wheel being fixed upon said shaft, and thus I am enabled to rotate the shaft c backward without transmitting power to the sprocket wheel or wheels. In the reverse direction, however, the said sprocket-wheel is operated by the ratchet and pawl, so as to transmit motion to the conveyingdevices. I am thus enabled to drive the belts and strips 7o when the cleaning device is pushed forward; but when said device is moved in the opposite direction there will bc no movement of the machinery and noise incident thereto.

In operating the device the street cleaner or operator first suspends the bag at the back of the device, so that the scrapings after having been elevated will drop by gravity into the open mouth thereof, the empty bags for subsequent use being stored upon the screen or netting at the inclined top of the device. IIe then simply pushes the said device forward on the wheel d, the scraper being held upon the road -bed by the weight, which weight, however, is not so great as to prevent the said operator from easily raising the scraper from the ground by pressing on the handles when it is desired to make a back movement for the purpose of scraping up the scrapings accum ulatcd by the broom or brush.

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623,496 l l s As the scrapings are raised by the forward flange m of the scraping-foot said scrapings are taken by the conveying bars or strips and raised over the inclined way B to the top of the machine or device, where said scrapings are permitted to drop into the open mouth of the bag. This operation is continued until the bag is well filled, when said bag is removed, closed, and laid aside to be subsequently placed upon a cart and carried away to a suitable du1npingplace- A new bag is then placed in position andthe operation continued.

Inasmuch as the scraping-flanges extend out close to thesides of the device and there are no pulleys or other working parts outside of the frames a, the device can be brought into very close relation to the curb and the dirt therein may be Very completely scraped therefrom, as will be evident.

By the construction described the operation of lling the bags is automatic and simultaneous with the operation of` scraping and but very little time is consumed in closing the bags and removing them from the device when filled. Thus the operator lnay occupy his Whole time in scraping, all of which conduces to an efficient cleaning of the street at a small expenditure of time.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new isl. The improved hand-power street-cleaning device herein described, comprising' a frame a, having rearwardly-projecting pushing-handles l), and providing at its lower part shaft-bearings, a driving-shaft c, pivoted in said bearings, a wheel d, fast on said shaft at its middle and engaging the ground to carry the weight of the machine, an inclined way at the front of the frame, a scraper at the foot ofsaid Way, aconveyer for carryingthe scrapings up said inclined way to a suitable receptacle and means for transmitting motion to said conveyer from the driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved hand-power street-cleaning` device herein described, comprising side frames a, a, providingbetween their rear parts a place for a bag or other receptacle and havinga scraper at the forward lower` end, an inclined wayin line with said scraper and having its upper end over said bag or receptacle and a conveyer for forcing the scrapings up said slideway into the bag, the whole being su pported upon a wheel centrally pvoted between the side frames, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hand-power street-cleaning device, the combination with a frame adapted to support a receptacle for the dirt, a scraper, and means for conveying the dirt from said scraper to said receptacle, of a centrally pivoted wheel d, upon which the machine is balanced and which affords means for pushing the machine about and tilting it to Operate the scraper, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination inahand-power streetcleaning device having the frame a, scraper m, receptacle A, and conveyer B, of a single wheel centrally disposed on a transverse shaft c, pivoted in said frame, said wheel serving to pivotally support the device in operating the scraper and to furnish power to said conveyer, substantially as set forth.

5. The improved street-cleaning device herein described comprising side frames a, providing handles b, and being adapted to support a bag A, or other receptacles, an inclined way at the front, an adjustable scraper at the bottom of said way and conveyer-chains working over sprocket-wheels at the ends of said inclined way to carry the scrapings from said scraper upward to the bag or other receptacle, a transverse shaft at the lower part of the frames, a wheel fast on the middle of said shaft and loose sprocket-wheels near the ends thereof adapted to be engaged by adjacent ratchet-wheels fast on the shaft and transmit motion to 'the conveyer, substantially as set forth. Y

6. The combination in ahand-power streetcleaning machi ne having the frame a, inclined way B, and single pivotal wheel d, of a scraper m, having an upward extension m", adapted to be adj ustably fastened to said inclined way by screws n, and having a forward scrapingblade m', in line with the floor of said inclined way and a rearward flange m, adapted to engage the surface to be scraped and steady said scraper, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the side frames, d, supporting between them a receptacle A, an inclined way at the front of said frame and having top and bottom sprocket-wheels, conveyer chains running over said sprocketwheels, a scraper at the foot of said inclined way and having a forward scraping-blade m', and rearward supportin g-iian ge m", a brush arranged behind said scraper and adapted to be lowered t'o take up wear, a single middle wheel fast upon a transverse shaft pivoted at the bottom of the frame, end sprocket-wheels loose on said'shaft and adapted to be engaged by ratchet-Wheels fast on the shaft, chains running around said sprocket-wheels and outside sprocket-wheels on the upper conveyershaft, and spring-casters arranged at the rear corners of the frame to partially support the receptacle when filled, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I cla-im the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of February, 1898.

GEORGE M. VARD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, C. B. PI'rNEY.,

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